Anne Rice's Vampire and Sleeping Beauty

Anne Rice (born 1941) is a best-selling Southern American author of metaphysical gothic fiction, Christian literature and erotica from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her books have sold nearly 100 million copies, making her one of the most widely read authors in modern history.

«Tragic mask on the façade of the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm»
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Gothic fiction, sometimes referred to as Gothic horror, is a genre or mode of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance. Gothicism's origin is attributed to English author Horace Walpole, with his 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto, subtitled “A Gothic Story”. The effect of Gothic fiction feeds on a pleasing sort of terror, an extension of Romantic literary pleasures that were relatively new at the time of Walpole's novel. Melodrama and parody (including self-parody) were other long-standing features of the Gothic initiated by Walpole.

Anne's Vampire

Here's description of Anne's vampire:

Vampiric properties

Anne Rice's vampires are different in several ways from classic vampires like Dracula. Rice's creatures are not affected by the usual weapons against classic vampires: garlic, crosses, and they cannot be killed with wooden stakes. Like classic vampires, most do choose to sleep in some form of coffin during the day because sun exposure can cause death/pain. Also, during the day, most “sleep”, however, this differs from “mortal sleep” as: Ⓐ they become dead bodies, and Ⓑ the dawn often triggers their sleep against their will.

They need blood, but in some cases not every night (David Talbot suggests most “newborn” vampires must drink heavily everynight, himself included). Human blood is preferred as it is more nutritious, but animal blood can also be drunk. They do not age physically (instead becoming more “statuesque” as they age, developing very smooth, white skin), and in all but a few cases, vampires younger than a thousand years old can usually be killed by exposure to sunlight or fire.

They do not possess stereotypically “vampiric” magical powers, such as changing into bats, but some of the stronger, older ones do have the power to fly. Most of them also have the power to read the thoughts of mortals and weaker vampires. They have other physical abilities: they have superhuman strength and speed and extremely keen senses. Very old vampires or ones who have been made or strengthened by feeding on blood that is close to the root of the vampiric mother may have additional gifts like the ability to move matter with the mind and the ability to set things ablaze by the force of will. They have many artistic talents, like singing, painting and acting, and a preternatural “understanding” of any type of problem, puzzle or machine. They also have the uncanny ability to almost perfectly mimic anything (movement, playing musical instruments, etc.).

The main characteristic of Rice's vampires is that they are all excessively emotional, sensitive, and sensual, being easy prey to intense suffering and aesthetic passions. They are supernaturally beautiful as vampires tend to make fledglings from humans they have grown to love, and the transformation from human to vampire enhances one's beauty.

The physical changes are apparent: their eyes become luminous, their skin pale and reflective and their fingernails are like glass. Furthermore, if their hair or nails are cut, they will grow back as they were when they “died” during their sleep. As they lose all natural bodily fluids, they are unable to have children.

Note that Rice's vampire qualities became fashionable. Since her books, vampires in literature and pop culture have assumed the basic characteristics she gave. Though, after 2000s, vampire has gained other characteristics, more or less becoming ideal lovers. See: Discovering Twilight Dawn Reaction.

Anne's Sleeping Beauty

Anne has also written erotica. What are they? They are the The Sleeping Beauty Trilogy. I actually read the first book, The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, in around 1994. It is pure explicit hardcore sadomasochistic pornography.
Basically, every page is explicit description of SM sex. The story evolves around the Sleeping Beauty — a 15 years-old girl, and umpteen other teen girls and boys as sex slaves.
Even though i love SM, but the story is pretty boring and shallow. Ι read a couple of chapters of the 2nd book: Beauty's Punishment but lost interest to continue.